Rodolphus felt awkward trailing behind Hermione, the gleaming marble floors and opulent glass walls of the Ministry seeming so distant from what he was used to. Ministry workers, clean shaven and donning fresh robes, stared to ogle at this dirty man in tattered robes. His hair was long and shaggy and the stubble on his chin and grown into a wild and unruly beard. A few recognized his face.
"Is that...him?" they whispered. "What is he doing with the Minister?"
"Ignore them," commanded Hermione.
Rodolphus nodded, and at last they reached the entrance to the Ministry. It was large and spacious, and more bustling than any of the rooms combined.
Rodolphus cast his eyes towards the door. Standing there was a man, a woman, and a boy. The man had blonde hair and a pointed nose. He was very tall in comparison to the woman, who was dark haired and dainty, and wore a very modest dress that covered every inch of her skin. The boy looked about thirteen or fourteen, and was identical to his father, except for having his mother's murky hazel green eyes. "Draco?" whispered Rodolphus hoarsely. Draco nodded, smiling, and reached out his hand. Rodolphus shook it. "Good to see you, Uncle," said Draco heartily.
"You, too. How is life treating you, boy?"
"Quite nicely, I suppose," Draco replied. "Astoria here is very lovely, and I couldn't be more proud of Scorpius, our son." For a moment Rodolphus felt a pang if jealousy. He had always wanted a son, but at least now he got to be reunited with the boy who was something like his son.
"He seems like a nice boy. What are the house elves cooking for dinner, assuming that I'll spend the night with you lot?"
"Oh, we don't have elves. I do the cooking myself," chimed in Astoria, finally breaking her silence; her voice was high and soft. "We'll probably have cabbage pudding, as Draco tells me it's your favorite."
Rodolphus nodded. He could sense fear in Astoria. He couldn't blame her. He had been a fearsome Death Eater when they had first met, and even then, she had seemed to privately oppose the cause her family had been a part of. He wished he could try to show that he was a changed man. He was no longer a soldier, hardened and cruel, channeling his anger into fighting and aggression. His anger over the unfair childhood he had, over the teasing he had always faced, over the way his master thought he could bully or intimidate him just because he was weak. That's how the Dark Lord had claimed Bella. But after the war had ended, there was no further need to fight. There was no longer need to submit to Voldemort, or to Bella, for that matter, because they were both dead.
Giving Astoria the warmest, most reassuring smile he could, which didn't seem to be very warm because it only left Astoria shivering harder, Rodolphus followed the family into a Ministry cab.
"You work for the Ministry, Draco?"
"No, sir, but I'm friends with a few others who do, and they were kind enough to lend me some means of transportation."
Rodolphus nodded wordlessly. He could tell that Draco was implying that he was friends with Potter now, no doubt why Hermione had declared that he had "turned over a new leaf". In their distorted minds, anyone who was friends with them was good.
Hmph.
As Astoria had promised, dinner was cabbage pudding. Although Rodolphus dared not say it, it was not very good, although he appreciated Astoria's effort. She seemed to be a very lovely woman indeed. Strange how he thought her lovely, when the woman he knew to be the loveliest in the world was nothing like her. No, Bella was never one for domestication... Not that he had minded. In his eyes, she was perfect the way she was. He wasn't like the other pure blood husbands, petty and demanding. And she wasn't like the other pure blood wives.
Astoria had shown him around the house and told him where the guest chambers were located, where he was to be staying. Eventually he would get a house if his own, but that would be figured out later.
As Rodolphus headed up the stairs to his guest room, he caught the shadow of young Scorpius out of the corner of his eye. The boy had been very quiet during dinner. He was no doubt scared like his mother, and Rodolphus was determined to make him see that he could trust him.
"You attend Hogwarts, I assume?" said Rodolphus.
"Y-yes, sir," said Scorpius, startled. "I'll be returning once the winter holidays are over."
"And you're in the great house of Slytherin?"
"Yes," said Scorpius. Rodolphus could sense bitterness in the boy's voice, so he didn't press the point any further.
"Well, good-night, then."
And with that, Rodolphus shut the door.